Summer 2014 - Day 3

I got up, showered, packed, had some food, said goodbye to Cricket and Bunny, and was off. Then I was driving driving driving driving driving driving...

Wisconsin welcoming me

...driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving driving and stopping in Oakdale.

Photo snapped, coffee consumed, post cards purchased. I stand by the car, posting things, making calls, and then... tragic news is viewed, then confirmed. I paused to contact other people and process. A good friend from graduate school was in a fatal accident on Friday. I was already late, but I needed another half hour before I could get going again.

So it was driving driving driving driving driving some crying to a James Taylor song driving driving driving driving remembering to drive safe - we don't need more tragedies today - driving driving driving driving driving driving crying a little more driving driving driving driving driving driving and remembering just how beautiful parts of Wisconsin are.

I arrived at the Cave of the Mounds before 2pm and had a picnic lunch with my mom, sister, and my sister's boyfriend before we were off caving.

We got tickets for the cave and looked around the gift shops until our cave tour began at 3. 

The cave and our guide.

Then the battery on my phone ran out. After we purchased souvenirs, and I had a large amount of water, we went to downtown Madison, to Roman Candle for ice cream. First, we stopped in a pet shop and the smell was not good for me. When we got to the restaurant and I realized that they served pizza, I recommended that we get some food. I also got a salad to start, and it came with a breadstick. The breadstick was perhaps the most amazing thing in the world at that moment, and the salad was delicious. The pizza was also delicious, as was the ice cream. I paid the bill and we walked on back to the cars, said goodnight to J (sister) and A (sister's bf), then Mom and I were off to find a gas station and get to the hotel. 

Gas stations were in short supply until we got to Fish Hatchery Road, where I hit up the Speedway and got gas. Then I got a little lost on the way to the hotel, but got there just as it started raining, and finally made my way to the room. After changing into pajamas, I really just passed out. It had been a good, but jarring day.